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Govt signs off on plain packaging for tobacco products

The Government has this afternoon agreed to introduce legislation to implement plain packaging for tobacco products.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia said the legislation will mean cigarette packets and pouches will have larger health warnings and be stripped of marketing imagery.

“It will remove the last vestige of glamour from smoking,” she said.

The move is another blow to big tobacco companies, who have been subjected to price rises and more prohibitive laws in past years.